Apple Music celebrates the launch of inaugural 100 Best Albums list (2024)

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIAApple Music today announced the release of its 100 Best Albums of all time, a celebratory list of the greatest records ever made, crafted by AppleMusic’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX, Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on AppleMusic — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.

Apple Music is bringing its 100 Best Albums to life with a countdown celebration beginning today, revealing 10 albums each day for the next 10 days, along with a brand-new 100 Best microsite, new and exclusive content, dedicated Apple Music Radio episodes and so much more. The countdown will culminate on the final day with the reveal of AppleMusic’s top 10 albums of all time during a broadcast radio special.

“100 Best brings together all the things that make Apple Music the ultimate service for music lovers — human curation at its peak, an appreciation for the art of storytelling, and unparalleled knowledge of music and an even deeper love for it,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s senior director of content and editorial. “We have been working on this for a very long time, and it’s something we are all incredibly proud of and excited to share with the world.”

“Putting this list together was a true labour of love, both in that it was incredibly difficult to do and in that we are all so passionate about it,” said Zane Lowe, AppleMusic’s global creative director and lead anchor for AppleMusic1. “We were tasked with selecting the 100 best — that’s practically mission impossible. But as music fans, it was also amazing to really take a minute and sit and think about the music and albums and artists that we love so much in this context. If this list sparks more debate among fans outside of AppleMusic and gets people talking passionately about the music they love, then we’ve done what we set out to do.”

The first 10 albums, revealed today, offer a glimpse into AppleMusic’s unique approach with 100 Best. With seven of the 10 records hailing from the 21st century, two from the 90s, only one from the 70s, and various genres represented, the list spotlights contemporary artists like Tyler, The Creator, Robyn, Lorde, Travis Scott, Solange, Burial and more who have helped define this century through their music and its influence on others.

100. Body Talk, Robyn
99. Hotel California, Eagles
98. ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott
97. Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against the Machine
96. Pure Heroine, Lorde
95. Confessions, USHER
94. Untrue, Burial
93. A Seat at the Table, Solange
92. Flower Boy, Tyler, The Creator
91. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, George Michael

“There are so many fun facts for our listeners to discover about these albums,” said Scott Plagenhoef, AppleMusic’s global head of music programming. “For example, two of the records revealed today were promoted without the image of the artist, but for opposite reasons — Burial’s Untrue because the artist was still operating anonymously at the time, and George Michael’s Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 because the artist was actually retreating from fame.”

Discover, Learn and Share with Friends

To accompany the list, today AppleMusic also revealed a dedicated microsite that will update every day of the countdown, making it easy for listeners to follow along. Available now at 100best.music.apple.com, the new 100 Best microsite spotlights in-depth analysis of each album, archival interviews and more, and makes it easy for fans to share their favourite albums with friends and on their social channels.

Follow Along on Apple Music Radio

Fans will also be treated to a full 100 Best Albums Radio takeover on Apple Music Hits, where round-the-clock specials with Apple Music Radio hosts and daily specials at 9:00am PT (noon ET) will be broadcasted, plus exclusive content will drop every day on demand on AppleMusic and ApplePodcasts.

The last 10 albums will be revealed on Wednesday, 22 May PT, with a special roundtable discussion broadcasting globally on AppleMusic that features guest artists Nile Rodgers and Maggie Rogers reflecting on the list alongside AppleMusic’s own Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. Lowe will also curate a special mashup-style DJ mix featuring songs from all 100 Best Albums.

Apple Music will keep the momentum going after the countdown ends with an additional week of 100 Best Albums Radio takeover on Apple Music Hits.

All 100 Best Albums recipients will be given an award comprised of blasted anodized aluminium, sourced entirely from recycled Apple products, in a unique polished PVD gold. The design on the back of the award takes its cues from a vinyl LP record and is inscribed with the artist’s name, the album title and the album’s year of release.

Explore Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums at 100best.music.apple.com and check back daily to discover the full list. Get exclusive content by following @AppleMusic on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X.

• Text of this article

  14 May 2024

  PRESS RELEASE

  Apple Music celebrates the greatest records ever made with the launch of inaugural 100 Best Albums list

  A 10-day countdown kicks off today with the reveal of albums 100-91, featuring works from Solange, Tyler, The Creator, George Michael and more

  Discover, share and follow along as AppleMusic journeys through the albums that shaped, inspired and fundamentally changed music

  CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIAApple Music today announced the release of its 100 Best Albums of all time, a celebratory list of the greatest records ever made, crafted by AppleMusic’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX, Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on AppleMusic — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.

  Apple Music is bringing its 100 Best Albums to life with a countdown celebration beginning today, revealing 10 albums each day for the next 10 days, along with a brand-new 100 Best microsite, new and exclusive content, dedicated Apple Music Radio episodes and so much more. The countdown will culminate on the final day with the reveal of AppleMusic’s top 10 albums of all time during a broadcast radio special.

  “100 Best brings together all the things that make Apple Music the ultimate service for music lovers — human curation at its peak, an appreciation for the art of storytelling, and unparalleled knowledge of music and an even deeper love for it,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s senior director of content and editorial. “We have been working on this for a very long time, and it’s something we are all incredibly proud of and excited to share with the world.”

  “Putting this list together was a true labour of love, both in that it was incredibly difficult to do and in that we are all so passionate about it,” said Zane Lowe, AppleMusic’s global creative director and lead anchor for AppleMusic1. “We were tasked with selecting the 100 best — that’s practically mission impossible. But as music fans, it was also amazing to really take a minute and sit and think about the music and albums and artists that we love so much in this context. If this list sparks more debate among fans outside of AppleMusic and gets people talking passionately about the music they love, then we’ve done what we set out to do.”

  The first 10 albums, revealed today, offer a glimpse into AppleMusic’s unique approach with 100 Best. With seven of the 10 records hailing from the 21st century, two from the 90s, only one from the 70s, and various genres represented, the list spotlights contemporary artists like Tyler, The Creator, Robyn, Lorde, Travis Scott, Solange, Burial and more who have helped define this century through their music and its influence on others.

  100. Body Talk, Robyn
  99. Hotel California, Eagles
  98. ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott
  97. Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against the Machine
  96. Pure Heroine, Lorde
  95. Confessions, USHER
  94. Untrue, Burial
  93. A Seat at the Table, Solange
  92. Flower Boy, Tyler, The Creator
  91. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, George Michael

  “There are so many fun facts for our listeners to discover about these albums,” said Scott Plagenhoef, AppleMusic’s global head of music programming. “For example, two of the records revealed today were promoted without the image of the artist, but for opposite reasons — Burial’s Untrue because the artist was still operating anonymously at the time, and George Michael’s Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 because the artist was actually retreating from fame.”

  Discover, Learn and Share with Friends

  To accompany the list, today AppleMusic also revealed a dedicated microsite that will update every day of the countdown, making it easy for listeners to follow along. Available now at 100best.music.apple.com, the new 100 Best microsite spotlights in-depth analysis of each album, archival interviews and more, and makes it easy for fans to share their favourite albums with friends and on their social channels.

  Explore records 100-91 of Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums at 100best.music.apple.com.

  Follow Along on Apple Music Radio

  Fans will also be treated to a full 100 Best Albums Radio takeover on Apple Music Hits, where round-the-clock specials with Apple Music Radio hosts and daily specials at 9:00am PT (noon ET) will be broadcasted, plus exclusive content will drop every day on demand on AppleMusic and ApplePodcasts.

  The last 10 albums will be revealed on Wednesday, 22 May PT, with a special roundtable discussion broadcasting globally on AppleMusic that features guest artists Nile Rodgers and Maggie Rogers reflecting on the list alongside AppleMusic’s own Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. Lowe will also curate a special mashup-style DJ mix featuring songs from all 100 Best Albums.

  Apple Music will keep the momentum going after the countdown ends with an additional week of 100 Best Albums Radio takeover on Apple Music Hits.

  All 100 Best Albums recipients will be given an award comprised of blasted anodized aluminium, sourced entirely from recycled Apple products, in a unique polished PVD gold. The design on the back of the award takes its cues from a vinyl LP record and is inscribed with the artist’s name, the album title and the album’s year of release.

  Explore Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums at 100best.music.apple.com and check back daily to discover the full list. Get exclusive content by following @AppleMusic on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X.

  About Apple Apple revolutionised personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the AppStore, AppleMusic, ApplePay, iCloud and AppleTV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

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  Karynne Poon

  Apple

  karynne_poon@apple.com

  +61 401 281 248

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